Red Wings counting on Holmstrom in front of Ducks' net

Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) - Chris Chelios has seen trends come and go while playing in an NHL-record 22 postseasons.

The Detroit Red Wings defenseman said players today throw their bodies in front of shots more than ever because of the league's new rules.

That leads to more goals caroming off random body parts and equipment, sometimes with a player scoring on his own team. The latest example of that gave Detroit a 2-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks in the opener of the Western Conference finals.

Tomas Holmstrom was credited with the game-winner late in the third period Friday even though he wasn't the last one to touch the puck, and he didn't know if it hit his stick or glove before eventually trickling past goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

The Red Wings are fortunate, Chelios added, to have Holmstrom standing in front of goalies to shield their view.

"There's no one better," Chelios said. "I don't care what anybody says. There's no one that's even close to him."

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said only Ryan Smyth of the New York Islanders can be compared to Holmstrom.

"It's not from a natural-born talent," Carlyle said. "If you watched today when they practiced, (Holmstrom) was out there for a good half-hour, 20 minutes, practicing that art. He's a force to be reckoned with at that position on the ice."

At the other end of the rink, Anaheim wants to increase its chances of scoring more Holmstrom-like goals Sunday night in Game 2.

"They can't stop what they can't see," Carlyle said. "If you continue to get people in front of the net for the screens, you get pucks through. It's not always - as we just witnessed - the prettiest shots that go over the line.

"A lot of times in playoffs, those are the type of things that happen. They got two what you'd classify ugly goals, but both pucks went over the line and that's all it takes."

Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin was the last player to touch the puck on both of Detroit's goals Friday night.

The Ducks don't have a clone of Holmstrom, but they do have players trying to obstruct sight lines.